Improvement in wire fences



W. WARDEN] Wire-Pence. 4 No.199,946. Patented Feb. 5,1878.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WARDEN, OF MINNESOTA JUNCTION, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WIRE FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,946, dated February 5, 1878; application filed September 12, 1877. Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WARDEN, of Minnesota Junction, in the county of Dodge and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the fence. Fig. 2 is a cross-section. Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the posts. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the post, showing attachment of wire and staple.

This invention has relation to wire-fences for ordinary farm -inclosure purposes, and covers certain improvements having in view a reduction in the expense in the work of manufacture and erection, a simplification of the construction, an increase in strength, durability, and attractiveness, and such a relative adaptation of parts that the use of wood in the construction of wire fences may be entirely discarded and iron substituted.

This invention, accordingly, consists in the employment, in connection with the horizontal wires of a fence, of a fence-post made of wrought an gle-iron, and pierced or perforated at intervals corresponding to the position of the wires, in combination with wire or wroughtiron staples which embrace the wires, enter the holes in the posts, and, by being clinched behind, serve to retain the wires in a stretched, rigid position, the horizontal wires being slightly drawn into the slots by the pressure of the staples, and thereby prevented from displacement in the event of a' breakage of the wire between the posts.

In an application of even date herewith I have described an angle-iron fence-post adapted for the reception of a portable metallic panel, and have stated that a perforated post might be used interchangeably for portable panels and wires. Such a post would be the equivalent of the one forming an essential feature or element of the present application.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

A designates a wrought angle-iron post constructed according to my improved plan. The walls forming the angle taper from the point of meeting the surface of the ground toward both ends.

This construction facilitates insertion and removal,and gives the post lightness and stability. The recess or channel included between the walls at the lower portion has surfaces which diverge toward the lower end, so that the post, when erected, will be wedged into place by the packing of earth which fills its cavity.

a a designate the holes or slots for the reception of the staples. b b are the horizontal wires, and c c are the staples.

The staples are inserted into the holes from the outer side of the post, so as to embrace the stretched wires. They are then spread at.

their ends behind the pierced wall of the post, and are tightened sufficiently to draw the wires slightly into the holes. Under these conditions the wires are held remarkably tight and immovable, without any tendency whatever to become slack orloose.

If a wire breaks, or its removal is at all necessary, the ends of the staple holding it may be readily brought together, and the staple taken out.

It is unnecessary to detail the merits of the invention described. In points of simplicity, cheapness, and efiiciency it is believed that it cannot be surpassed, while it is obvious that it supplies the great desideratum, in sections where wood is scarce, of a complete metallic fence, superior in every respect to any wooden fence of equal strength and expense.

Having described my invention, I claim- The slotted wrought-iron posts A, wires 1), and staples 0 combined, the wires being .bent into the slots of the posts to secure greater rigidity, and prevent displacement when a wire becomes severed, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of September, 1877.

- WILLIAM WARDEN. Witnesses:

ANTHONY OoNNoLLY, JAS. B. GoNNoLLY. 

